Welcome to Collinwood
If Welcome to Collinwood sounds like a bunch of other crime caper comedies you've seen, that's because it is; in particular, Mario Monicelli's I Soliti Ignoti (1958), of which it is a remake. The Russo brothers give their version the vibe of a modern-day The Sting, only with a lot more F-words and idiots for thieves instead of seasoned con men. The movie boasts an impressive collection of great character actors who work extremely well together, and there are enough funny bits centered on these lovable losers to keep the plot moving toward its inevitable conclusion. For no good reason, however, the string of calamities that holds the plot together completely snaps at the end, resulting in a torpid, anticlimactic finish about lessons learned—yada yada yada. Instead of a mildly entertaining diversion with nothing to recommend or dissuade you from it, Welcome to Collinwood simply sputters out and winds up as nothing more than an exercise in good ensemble acting.
- July 16, 2007
DVD Details/Extras
2.35:1 widescreen; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; a making-of documentary with some back story on some of the characters (not sure about this one—DVD skipped); a glossary of terms and lingo; original trailer.